White Gold (22 page)

Dan zipped up his jacket and walked out through the reception doors. A bitter wind blew down the dimly lit street and the occasional car splashed through water-logged potholes in the bitumen.

He shoved his hands in his pockets and started to walk. He had no idea where he was going – he just needed to get away from the conference room for a while to clear his head.

He set himself a brisk pace and soon began to warm up. He focused on the pavement in front of him, occasionally glancing around to take in his surroundings. He missed the warm weather and wondered if he’d ever return to the city again after this. It all seemed so depressing and grey. He smiled as he thought of his father – now he understood why the man had spent so much time overseas, exploring far-flung places.

For so many years he thought his father had turned his back on him. Now he realised it was just a bad case of wanderlust and a need for adventure. They were more similar than he’d ever realised.

Dan reached a set of traffic lights and turned left. The wind died down and Dan slowed his pace a little. He heard a flapping sound and looked up, startled. Then he relaxed. A poster hung from the street-lamp ahead of him, advertising some sort of festival. He lowered his gaze and continued on.

Frustrated, he ran through the scenarios in his head. It just didn’t feel right. They were still missing something. He slowed down as he approached the steps to David’s offices and pushed open the reception door. Nodding at the security guard, he made his way over to the elevators and stepped in.

When he reached the conference room level, he walked slowly along the corridor, then stopped and leaned against the wall next to the water cooler. He closed his eyes. He could hear the faint sound of voices from the conference room. He rocked his head from side to side, stretching his neck muscles and rolled his shoulders. He had left the room for some fresh air and some time out but hadn’t got any closer to a reason for Delaney’s attack.

If Delaney’s plan was to create an impact at the Olympics, why send the freighter now? It would be months ahead of schedule. In shipping lanes and ports as busy as those bordering the North Sea, there was no way Delaney could hide the ship or the car until the time came to detonate a bomb. And given the required effort to keep the white gold powder stable… it could blow at any time, and not in a controlled way.

Dan opened his eyes. Something was bothering him. He frowned, re-tracing his steps. Then it hit him.
The advertising banners hanging from the lamp posts
!

Five faces turned as he burst through the conference room door.

‘It’s not the Olympics,’ said Dan, striding across to the conference table and sweeping photos and documents aside. ‘Where’s that plan of the freighter’s route so far?’

‘Here,’ Philippa said, pushing a copy of the printed map towards him.

Dan spun it around and beckoned David closer. ‘Based on its current speed, and presuming it’ll maintain that, what date would it get to the Thames Estuary?’

David picked up a permanent marker and wrote some calculations on the map before drawing a line from the Norwegian coastline to Tilbury. He threw the pen on the table when it was done and looked at Dan.

‘Twenty-seventh of March.’ David looked back at the satellite map. ‘That’s this Saturday.’

Dan nodded. ‘It’s not the Olympics – he’s too early.’

Sarah looked at each of them in confusion. ‘Then what is it?’

Dan looked at her. ‘Earth Hour.’

A shocked silence fell on the room.

‘Earth Hour?’ asked Sarah. ‘Where did you get that idea from?’

Dan nodded to the door. ‘I went for a walk to clear my head – the posters for it are hanging from the street lamps outside.’

‘Why Earth Hour?’ asked David. ‘What’s your thinking behind that?’

‘The impact would be immense,’ said Dan. ‘If Delaney uses a bomb derived from powdered white gold, he’ll put back alternative energy research fifty years or more.’

‘How?’

Dan sat down and ran his fingers through his hair. ‘I thought he was transporting the bomb using a car because the white gold powder was so unstable. It is, but I think the car is meant to look like it
is
the bomb. This white gold powder stuff is already being incorporated into fuel cell technology in vehicles and companies are spending a lot of time and money researching its potential on a large scale as a future wonder-fuel.’

David nodded in agreement. ‘So if Delaney stages an ‘accident’ using this technology, it’s back to using oil and coal until the supplies run out for good. Not to mention his shares in European gas companies will skyrocket in value.’

Dan nodded. ‘That’s it exactly. What better way to get the impact he wants than by using an environmentally friendly fuel source and detonating it during Earth Hour?’

David rocked back in his chair. ‘We’re going to have to let them come to us – there’s no way we’re going to be able to board the ship in the middle of the North Sea.’ He turned to the two analysts. ‘Get your reports finished and have them on my desk within the hour.’

The two men nodded, gathered up the notes and scurried from the room. David watched them go then turned to Philippa. ‘Get assault teams organised. Dan can lead one.’

Dan looked at him in astonishment. ‘Really?’

David smiled. ‘Yeah, really – think you can remember how?’

Dan nodded. ‘You bet. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.’

‘Good. We’ll need three land-based teams and one aquatic team to make sure no-one tries to leave the ship when we board her.’

Philippa made a couple of points in her notebook then rose from the table.  ‘We’ve only got a day to prepare,’ she said, ‘so I’ll speak to Steve and see who’s been in the field recently. I’ll want experts – there’s going to be no room for error.’

David stood up. ‘Right – let’s get on with it.’

Terry looked out the window of the freighter’s bridge as it powered slowly up the Thames. In the distance he could see the top of familiar landmarks of England’s capital – the Tower Bridge, the Telecom Tower, the Millennium Wheel.

He snorted, turning to Charles. ‘You know, there used to be a time in history when great cities were defined by their churches and cathedrals,’ he said, pointing out the window. ‘Now they’re defined by how big their hamster wheel is.’

Charles managed a nervous smile, unsure how to react to Terry’s confidence and humour.

Terry gripped the railing and stared out the window. ‘Soon,’ he promised himself. ‘Soon.’

Dan looked around the ops centre as the assault team began to prepare to leave. He looked over to the conference room and saw Sarah watching him from the doorway. He smiled and walked through the small crowd towards her.

‘You’re loving every minute of this, aren’t you?’ she said.

He looked back at the assault team and smiled. He turned back to her and nodded. ‘It feels familiar. And I want to stop Delaney’s bomb.’

David joined them. ‘Time to saddle up, Dan,’ he said. ‘Sarah – you can go in the helicopter. I’d rather you stayed here but I know you’ll just ignore that advice so I might as well put you somewhere where I know you won’t get into trouble.’

Sarah grinned and began to gather her things together.

Dan laughed. ‘You’re going to have to travel light – there’s not a lot of room in the chopper. It’s not like the ones you journalists are used to swanning around in.’

Sarah grimaced and placed her laptop bag back on the table. Dan watched her glance back at it wistfully, then he pushed her out the door and into the main ops room where David was gathering his team together for a last-minute overview of the assault on the freighter.

‘Okay people. Listen up. Dan will lead the assault from the bow of the ship, my team to the stern. The aquatic team won’t be boarding. They’ll provide cover if we need it and stop anyone from leaving the ship. The final team will cover the wharf to make sure no-one escapes down the gangways once we’re on board.’ David turned to make sure he addressed every person in the room. ‘We know the crew, apart from the captain, are already dead so we’ve only got him to worry about. Okay, let’s go.’

David began herding the assault team out of the ops room. As they made their way down the stairs to the underground car park, Dan pulled Sarah to one side. He nodded as David walked past them. He waited until they were alone, and then lowered his voice.

‘I know it goes against your nature but you really have to do as I say tonight. This is real, Sarah. Someone’s going to get hurt. I really hope it’s one of Delaney’s lot, not ours.’

She nodded. ‘I know.’ She looked around to make sure no-one could see them, and then hugged Dan. ‘Stay out of trouble.’

He grinned. ‘Always.’ He released her. ‘Come on. Can’t keep them waiting.’

They jogged through the car park to where the assault teams were climbing into four black mini-vans. The windows were blacked out, the wheels painted black and as Sarah followed the pilot out to the helicopter gunship, Dan noticed none of the vehicles had licence plates.

David pulled Dan to one side. ‘Here, you might need this,’ he said, slipping a gun to him.

‘Ah, my favourite – how did you know?’ asked Dan, smiling as he tucked the Sig Sauer into the back of his waistband.

Dan followed David to the lead mini-van and clipped on the battery pack for the radio on his belt. He inserted the earpiece, tested the volume and then nodded at David.
Ready
.

He opened the sliding door on the side of the vehicle and climbed in, nodding at the men already seated. David jumped in next to the driver. Dan slid the door shut and the driver floored the accelerator, leading the vehicles out of the underground car park.

Dan watched through the tinted glass as the helicopter gunship lifted into the air, ready to offer support. He leaned forwards and tapped David on the shoulder. ‘Do the police know we’re coming?’

David nodded. ‘We’ve alerted the police at Tilbury – they have their own jurisdiction at the docks.’

‘As long as they’re not creating a panic down there,’ said Dan. ‘The last thing we want is for Delaney’s crew to get spooked.’

‘We should be fine,’ replied David. ‘They’re just slowly working people away from the freighter so they’re out of danger. The only ones anywhere near it are going to be police posing as dock workers.’

Dan slouched back in the leather seat and watched the city go by. He turned the wire for his microphone between his fingers, unable to keep still. He blinked as the cityscape faded to desert and quickly shook his head to clear the image.

‘You okay?’

Dan glanced at the man sitting next to him and nodded. ‘Sure.’

The driver switched off the van’s lights as they approached the dock. The vehicle slowly crept forward, staying in the shadows.

Dan glanced behind him and saw the other three vehicles following. He tapped his microphone on. ‘Don’t use your brakes,’ he said. ‘Make sure you stay in a low gear and use the handbrake.’

A series of double clicks over the radio signified the other drivers’ confirmation. Dan shifted in his seat, satisfied the brake lights wouldn’t now give the team away. The mini-vans cruised to a stop under the awning of a building.

Dan looked ahead at the dock in the distance. ‘Okay, the hijacked ship is the one you can see the bow of,’ he explained in a low voice to the team in his van. ‘We wait until David confirms the aquatic team is in place.’

He glanced at David who was staring at his watch intently with his finger on his earpiece, waiting for confirmation that the assault boat had approached the freighter. The aquatic team was approaching the ship without an engine. Sound travelled further over water and the team was communicating through a series of pre-ordained clicks and taps on their microphones, not saying a word in case they jeopardised the assault.

Dan looked up as David lowered his watch and nodded at him.

‘That’s it, we have a go,’ said Dan, and gently slid the car door open.

He stood in the shadows and stared at the freighter. Somewhere inside, Delaney’s white gold weapon was waiting for him. Arc lights along the wharf illuminated parts of the ship. Dan realised how much brighter it would have been if the police hadn’t ensured that as little light as possible was used around the ship to help the assault, while at the same time trying to avoid arousing suspicion on the ship itself.

David joined him. ‘Almost like old times. You remember how to do this?’

Dan nodded. ‘Yeah. Second nature. It’s almost like the last few years never happened.’

David nodded. ‘I noticed – you’re a natural leader, Dan. It’s good to have you back.’

Dan watched him walk away to the mini-van behind theirs and begin issuing last-minute instructions before his voice came over the headset.

‘Let’s get busy.’

Dan signalled his team to follow him. Using the shadows of the buildings for cover, they edged closer to the ship. Dan stopped at the last building and looked over to the gangway leading up to the bow. He could see two figures walking along but they appeared to be engrossed in conversation and weren’t watching the dockside activity. The enormous stern loading doors hung open, a ramp leading down into the bowels of the ship. The police had done a good job posing as stevedores and stalling the unloading process as long as they dared without arousing suspicion.

Dan detected a salty tang in the air, a cold breeze whipping off the estuary waters outside the dock area.

David’s voice came low over the radio. ‘All in position?’

Dan tapped his microphone twice. He heard repeat responses from the rest of the team.

‘On my count,’ said David. ‘Three. Two. One.
Go
!’

Dan ran fast and low, keeping his team in the shadows between the arc lights, his gun drawn. As he reached the gangway, he released the safety catch and quickly checked behind him to make sure the team was ready. He nodded, turned and began to run up the gangway.

His heart raced, not from exertion but adrenaline coursing through his veins. He wanted to be the one to find Terry, to find out why.

He reached the top of the gangway at the same time David’s team reached theirs at the stern. The entry up to the ship’s bridge was to his left. Dan peered up at the windows as his team fanned out behind him. Suddenly a shout emanated from further along the deck and Dan ducked instinctively as a bullet embedded itself in the metalwork above his head. His team opened fire – careful concise shots to avoid any stray bullets hitting the wrong person.

The two men he’d seen further along the deck fell to the ground.

‘Two down,’ he said over the radio. ‘Don’t fire unless you’re fired at. We want to talk to some of these people if we can. Aim low to injure, not kill, if you can.’

A series of double-clicks sounded over the radio in response.

Dan edged further along the deck until he found a doorway to his right. He signalled to his team to stand clear, and then he slowly twisted the handle and gently pulled the door towards him. A metal staircase led upwards.

Dan concentrated on his breathing, pushing his heart rate down. He pulled the door outwards and risked a glance up the staircase. He leapt back as a bullet hit the floor next to him, the sound ringing in his ears a split second later.

Dan looked at the man to his right. ‘Have you got any of those flash bangs?’

The man nodded and handed Dan one of the stun grenades.

Dan grinned. ‘Let’s get the bastard.’

He pulled the pin, opened the door and tossed the grenade into the stairwell. He slammed the door shut and held it closed, turned his head away and closed his eyes. A loud explosion moved the door in its frame, followed by the sound of something metallic falling down the stairs.

Dan opened the door and peered in. An assault rifle lay at the bottom of the stairs. Dan stepped in through the door, glanced upwards and snatched up the rifle.

‘Go, go!’ he yelled to the team and led them up the metal staircase.

As they neared the top, Dan slowed and waved his men to stay close behind him. He edged towards an open door which he guessed led to the control room of the ship. He raised his gun and peered around the door. His heart sank.

The man with the glasses stood facing him, holding Brogan in front of him as a shield and pushed a gun into the man’s throat.

‘Drop the gun,’ he said.

Dan’s mind raced. He looked at Brogan.

‘Are you okay?’

Brogan nodded, watching Dan carefully.

‘We’ve got your daughter. She’s safe,’ said Dan.

Brogan noticeably slumped. The sudden movement threw Charles off balance. He let go of the captain to get a better grip on the man and Dan saw his chance.

He fired. Once. Low.

Charles bellowed as the bullet smashed his ankle and embedded itself in the table behind him. He dropped his gun. He let go of Brogan, falling to the floor in agony. Dan rushed over and kicked his weapon out of the way. He bent down and placed his foot on the man’s throat.

‘You bastard. I should use the next five bullets on your other body parts.’

He called over to one of his team, who was kneeling on the floor beside Brogan.

‘Is he going to be alright?’

The man nodded. ‘We’ll get him to hospital. I would think he’s dehydrated and in shock. His daughter’s there, waiting for him.’

‘Good.’

Dan turned his attention back to Charles. ‘It’s over. Where’s the bomb-maker?’

Charles laughed. Then Dan kicked his ankle and he cried out from the pain.

‘Where’s Terry?’ demanded Dan. ‘Where’s the car?’

‘It’s gone.’

Dan spun round. Brogan was easing himself up on an elbow, staring at Dan. ‘They got it off the ship just before you turned up. The guy in charge is driving it.’

‘Sir!’

Dan looked up. One of his men was pointing out the window. ‘I think you need to see this, sir!’

Dan rushed over. A car, headlights blazing across the wharf, revved its engine, spun round and accelerated towards the exit of the docks.

Dan raced down the stairs, meeting David on the deck. They watched over the side of the ship in disbelief as the black sedan charged at one of the policemen dressed as a dock worker. The man leapt into the freezing cold water of the dock, narrowly escaping being run over and began to swim back towards his colleagues.

David turned to Dan, then clicked his radio.

‘Helicopter!’ he yelled.